Flamin' 8 (click for more images)
London's best tattoo studios
-
By Kate Hutchinson Photography David Axelbank
Posted: Wed Sep 23 2009 -
The capital is home to some of the world's best tattoo studios and parlours – with top artists such as Nikole Lowe, Saira Hunjan, Naresh Bhana and Mo Coppoletta. Whether you're looking for a discreet design or a larger one, here are the sharpest needles in town
-
Good Times
147 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3QE
Serene tattooing sounds like an oxymoron, but not where Nikole Lowe's new Zen-like sanctuary above Curtain Road is concerned. Spacious, light and sophisticated, it's the opposite to stereotypical cramped and garish tattoo shops. The walls boast cross-continental curiosities with a bohemian and exotic twist and there's a multi-ethnic shrine in one corner, representing the studio's unique design flair. It boasts an eclectic mix of tribal styles, including western traditional, Japanese and Tibetan, with a feminine edge. Lowe, who featured in the TV series 'London Ink', has assembled some of the best female tattooists in London, including hipster (and Kate Moss) favourite Saira Hunjan, you'll have to be patient, however: both Lowe and Hunjan's waiting lists stretch into next year. Read more
-
Diamond Jacks
5 Walkers Court, London, W1F 0BT
Soho's longest running tattoo parlour is also its most rockin' and unpretentious – specialising in rock 'n' roll-fuelled Americana, traditional, portrait and Japanese body art. Nestled in a suitably sleazy alley, every inch of its walls are covered in music memorabilia and rows of vibrant tattoo flashes. Dee Dee Ramone and the Stray Cats used to come here in the '80s and current owner Darryl Gates continues its sleazy punk legacy, keeping the shop's original fittings and neon sign. Gates has designed tattoos for Vogue photoshoots and films such as 'This Is England', but they're also known for their body modification services (genital beading, anyone?) by Iestyn Flye. Artists Luci Lou and Mil Martinez also work here. Read more
-
Flamin' Eight
2 Castle Road, London, NW1 8PP
Naresh Bhana's lurid purple corner shop has the punky edge you'd expect on Camden's main strip, but is tucked away on a more peaceful Kentish Town side street. It's dedicated team are a lot friendlier too, working within Bhana's treasure trove of voodoo knick-knacks from around the world to produce new-school, traditional and Japanese designs, with a focus on large-scale pieces. There's the skull-topped tiki bar-cum-counter that dissects the studio, the intricately carved coffee table filled with interesting wooden and metal needles, and shelving stretching across the room on which carved Haitian figures and 'Day of the Dead'-themed trinkets sit. Whatever your pain threshold, you're never short of oddities to take your mind off it. Read more
-
Into You
144 St John Street, London, EC1V 4UA
Style: Across the board. Who goes there: Lucky Diamond Rich (the world's most tattooed man), Alexander McQueen, Keith Flint (Prodigy) and Britney Spears. Open since 1993 and sticking out of Clerkenwell office blocks, Into You is one of the most sought after studios in London and some of the capital's best tattoo artists have worked there (the current roster includes owner Alex Binnie, Mr X, Tomas Tomas, Tass, Higgins, Lucy and Calypso). Today, go for Binnie's bold tribal designs, Mr X's saturated black graphics and first-rate shading, or for Tomas Tomas, who often uses a traditional hand-poking technique, and whose incredibly intricate, modern tribal diagrams are particularly impressive. They're about as far from Celtic crosses as you can get! Read more
-
The Family Business
58 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE
Style: Mainly Western or Oriental iconography, or a mix of both. Who goes there: 'People come here because we're the famous one!' Everything about The Family Business is sharp, from its boutiquey location in Exmouth Market to its suited and booted staff and vintage swing soundtrack. Its blood-red interior, adorned with Roman Catholic imagery, is inspired by owner Mo Coppoletta's Italian heritage, and contrasts with the bold Japanese screens separating the work area from the waiting room (and giving privacy to customers). Artists include Coppoletta, Kanae, Diego Azaldegui, Dom Holmes, Mie Sato, Diego Brandi (from October), plus regular international guests. Read more
-
Frith Street Tattoo
18 Frith Street, London, W1D 4RQ
Frith Street has been custom designing quality work since 2003 but its popularity escalated recently thanks to its some time employee and frontman of British punk band Gallows, Frank Carter. He showed how much he loved tattoos by getting inked live onstage at Reading Festival in 2007. Since then they've drawn a younger, punkier crowd, who choose from one of Frith Street's six formidable artists. Most striking is Warsaw-born Piotrek Taton, whose gothic images, flawless shading and 3D effects are often brutally intense. Read more
-
New Wave Tattoo
157 Sydney Road, London, N10 2NL
Lal Hardy's Muswell Hill studio is London's most famous, offering a wide range of styles, from mechanical (Adam Collins) to Japanese (Luca Ortis) to feminine designs (Silvia Zed). That's probably why they've attracted such celebrity customers – Liam Gallagher, the Osbournes, Patsy Kensit Healy, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Dermot O'Leary and Mel B have all visited. It's not as chic as some of the other parlours, but having been in the business for 20 years, it's still one of the most dependable. Read more
-
Jolie Rouge
364 Caledonian Road, London, N1 1DU
Caledonian Road parlour Jolie Rouge is one of the more underground studios in London, but it's held in high regard by the city's tattoo creatives. Their studio has a fresh and streetwise approach, all opulent wallpaper and gothic candelabras inside, and Matt-Difa is particularly revered for his graffiti-inspired work. What's more, they're willing to try what others turn down and pride themselves on not having the rock star attitude of some of the other shops. Their artists include Reychel, Charissa, Javi Lee and Lord Montana-Blue. Read more
-
George Bone Tattoos
58 Boston Road, London, W7 3TR
You may mistake George Bone's solo studio for the set of a Meat Loaf video, with its plentiful skeletons, pentagrams and gothic drapery, but he's been operating his successful tattoo business out of west London since the mid-’70s. Extra kudos for the 'monastically themed' toilet, which comes 'complete with chanting monks'. Bone's is definitely one for the seasoned rocker. Read more
-
- Add your comment to this feature
-
Gallery
-
|
|
More ways to enjoy Time Out
-
Weekly London newsletter
The best of London in your inbox
-
Time Out Widgets
|
|
7 comments
I've just had something done by Jon at Flamin Eight and it's brilliant. He also works out at Blue Fire at Chingford and I've seen some lovely Koi that he did.
which is a good place to get koi pond tattoos in london. which artist would you recommend.
There are two great tattoo parlors on Holloway Road. Blood Brothers Tattoo Studio at 120 who've been doing great work for six years now! And the new Haunted at 159 specialising in horror and dark themes.
Mal, Mr X at Into You is good on calligraphy - my lover had one of his - she was very pleased with it.
Interested in at London tattooist that specializes in calligraphy, any recommecdations?
Andy Barbers Tattoo Studio is the best in New Malden
watch out, flamin 8 isn't gr8.